Automobile chain snap



DH1' 28, 1948 l.. R. BECKMAN AUTOMOBILE CHAIN SNAP Filed March 28, 1947 SWW/Moc Lawrence Beckman lul mi M15/407m r Patented Dec. 28, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 2,457,435 AUTOMOBILE CHAIN SNAP Lawrence R. Beckman, Erhard, Minn.

Application March 28, 1947, Serial No. 737,872

5 claims. 1

My invention relates to automobile accessories and more particularly to a snap adapted to connect the ends of an automobile mud chain with each other.

The object of my invention is to provide an automobile chain snap adapted to receive and hold the end links of an automobile mud chain. so that the ends of said chain are securely but disengageably connected with each other.

Other objects of my invention may appear in the following specification describing it with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention.

It is however to be understood, that my invention is not to be limited or restricted to the exact construction and combination of parts described'in the specification and shown in the drawing, but that such changes and modications can be made, which fall within the scope oi the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing Figure 1 is an elevational rear viewof an automobile chain snap according to my invention in working position connecting the ends of a fragmentarily shown chain.

Figure 2 is an elevational front view of an automobile chain snap in closed position.

Figure 3 is an elevational front view of an automobile chain snap in open position, ready to receive the end links of an auto chain or the like.

Figure 4 is a sectional view take: on line 4 4 in Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is an end view of Figure 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawing the automobile chain snap forming the subject matter of my invention comprises a front plate Ill made preferably from any suitable metal and having a substantially rectangular shape, the corners of said rectangle being broken 'as shown at II, I2, I3 and Il.

Centrally of the length of the front plate I and adjacent the upper edge thereof a small rectangular hole I is provided and extends lengthwise thereto.

Adjacent the lower edge of the front plate I5 a round hole I6 is arranged on the transverse center line of said front plate.

Between the left hand end of the front plate I0 and its transverse center line a hook shaped slot I1 extends upwardly from the lower edge of said plate I Il and then horizontally toward the left. The lower corners oi' the slot I1 are broken as shown at I8 and I9. The slot is wide enough to receive a link 20 ot a chain 2i therein and the right from the transverse center line of the frontplate I0 at an equal distance from said center line as the first mentioned hook slot Il. The second hook slot 22 extends upwardly from the lower edge of the front plate III as far as the first hook slot I1 and extends then toward the right. The width of the second hook slot is equal to the width of the first hook slot and the corners of the second hook slot 22 are broken as shown at 23 and 24.

A rear plate 25 is as long and as wide as the front plate I0 and its corners are broken as shown at 26, 2l, 28 and 29.

A rectangular longitudinal slot 30 is provided in the rear plate 25 and is located, so that it coincides with the slot l5 in the front plate I0, when the two plates are arranged relatively to each other so that they cover each other.

To the left of the transverse center line of the rear plate 25 another hook slot 3| is provided. The width or' this hook slot is equal to the width of the first named hook slot Il in the front plate III. The portion of the third hook slot 3l extending upwardly from the lower edge of the rear plate 25 is located so that its inner edge coincides with the outer edge of the first hook slot Il, when the two plates are arranged to cover each other. The horizontal portion of the third hook slot 3| coincides with the corresponding portion of the first hook slot Il but is shorter than this last mentioned portion of rst hook slot Il. The difference of the lengths of the two horizontal hook slot portions is equal to the width of said slots.

To the right of the transverse center line of the rear plate 25 a fourth hook slot 32 is provided, having a portion extending upwardly from the lower edge of the rear plate 25. The Width of this hook slot portion is equal to the Width of the corresponding portion of the second hook slot 22 in the front plate I0, and the outer edge of this slot portion coincides with the inner edge of the corresponding portion of slot 22, when the plates cover each other.

The horizontal portion of the fourth hook slot 32 coincides with the corresponding portion of the second hook slot 22 but is longer than this hook slotA portion. The difference in length between these two hook slot portions is equal to the width of said slots.

In the rear plate 25, Figure l, an elongated hole Il is provided, so that its left end coincides with un noie n in marrant plate Il and its right. cmi extends beyond said hole a distance equal Tto the width oi' the hook slot, when the two plates Il and Il are arranged to cover each other.

A rivet ll extends through the hole Il in the front plate Il and the elongated hole in the rear plate 2l connecting these two plates securely with each other. but permitting longitudinal sliding movement oi said plat relative to each other.

'In the rear surface of the iront plate Il a horizontal groove Il is provided between the hole IC and the rectangular opening IB. This groove hal a semi-circular cross section, and in the front surface of the rear plate 2l a corresponding groove 3l is arranged. so that a helical spring I1 can be positioned into these grooves, when the two plates lli and 2l are being connected with each other. The ends oi the helical spring l1 engage the ends of the two grooves ll and Il and urge the plates In and 2l to slide into `and remain in the position shown in Figures l and 2. In this position the two plates cover each other and the hook slots in these plates are arranged so that the vertical or entrance portions of said slots are closed.

When it is desired to insert links 20 of the chain 2| into the hook slots, the plates I0 `and 2l are slid into the position shown inFigure 3, so that the vertical slot portions coincide with each other permitting the links 20 to enter in-to the horizontal slot portions. When the finger mesure on the plates is released, lthe spring urges the plates into the position shown in Figure i in which the links are securely held against accidental displacement.

To facilitate the insertion of the links 2li into the slots, the lower edges of the slots ll and 32 in the rear plate 25 are also broken as shown at 38,-, lll and l I.

When snow. ice, mud or -the like prevents easy sliding movement of the plates I and 2l relative to each other a screw driver or the like (not shown) is inserted into the rectangular openings il and Il in the front and rear plate respective- 1y and sliding movement of said plates is obtained therewith.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. An automobile chain snap including a subv slidably connected with each other, the vertical slot portions in the rear plate being located so that the inner edge o1' one oi' said slot portions coincides with the outer edge of the corresponding slot portion in the iront plate and the outer edge o! the other vertical slot portion in the rear plate coincides with the inner edge of the corresponding slot portion in the front plate, when the two plates are arranged to cover each other.

2. An automobile chain snap including a substantially rectangular front plate provided with two hook shaped slots adjacent its ends, the vertical portion oi each slot extending in the same direction and the horizontal slot portions extending in opposite directions, a rear plate having the same size and shape as the front plate and provided with two hook slots oi the same width as the slots in the iront plate, the two plates being slidably connected with each other, the vertical slot portions in the rear plate being located so that the inner edge oi one of said slot portions coincides with the outer edge o! the corresponding slot portion in the iront plate and the outer edge oi' the other vertical slot portion in the rear plate coincides with the inner edge or the corresponding slot portion in the iront plate, when the' two plates are arranged to cover each other, the horizontal portion o! the first slot in the rear plate being shorter than the corresponding slot -portion in the front plate and the horizonal portion or the second slot in the rear plate being longer than the corresponding slot portion in the front plate.

3. An automobile chain snap including a substantially rectangular iront plate provided with two hook shaped slots adjacent its ends, the vertical portion of each slot extending in the same direction and the horizontal slot portions extending in opposite directions, a rear plate having the same size and shape as the iront plate and provided with two hook slots of the same width as the slots in the iront plate, the two plates being slidably connected with each other, the vertical slot portions in the rear plate being located so that the inner edge of one of said slot portions coincides with the outer edge oi the corresponding slot portion in the iront plate and the outer edge of the other vertical slot portion in the rear plate coincides with the inner edge of the corresponding slot portion in the iront plate, when the two plates are arranged to cover each other, the horizontal portion of the first slot in the rear plate being shorter than the corresponding slot portion in the iront plate and the horizontal portion of the second slot in the rear'plate being longer than the corresponding slot portion in the frontplate, the diilerence in the length or said corresponding slot portions being equal to the width of said slots.

4. An automobile chain snap including a substantially rectangular iront plate provided with two hook shaped slots adjacent its ends, the vertical portion of each slot extending in the same direction and the horizontal slot portions extending in opposite directions, a rear plate having the same size and shape as the front plate and provided with two hook slots ot the same width as the slots in the front plate, the two plates being slidably connected with each other, the vertical slot portions in the rear plate being located so that the inner edge o! one of said slot portions 'coincides with the outer edge oi the corresponding slot portion in the iront plate and the outer edge of the other vertical slot portion in the rear plate coincides with the inner edge of the corresponding slot portion in the iront plate, when the two plates are arranged to cover each other, the horizontal portion of the ilrst slot in the rear plate being shorter than the corresponding slot portionin the front plate and the horizontal portion of the second slot in the rear plate being longer than the corresponding slot portion in the front plate, the difference in the length of said corresponding slot portions being equal to the width oi said slots, and a spring engaging the two plates and urging them into position to cover each other.

5. An automobile chain snap including a substantially rectangular iront plate provided with two hook shaped slots adjacent its ends, the vertical portion of each slot extending in the same direction and the horizontal slot portions extends l ing in opposite directions. a rear plate having the in the lfront plate and the same size'and shape as the front plate and provided with two hook slots oi the same width as the slots in the iront plate, the two plates being slidably connected with each other, the vertical slot portions in the rear plate being located so that the inner edge of one of said slot portions coincides with the outer edge of the corresponding slot portion in the iront plate and the outer edge of the other vertical slot portion in the rear plate coincides with the inner edge of the corresponding slo't portion in the iront plate, when the two plates are arranged to cover each other, the horizontal portion of the ilrst slot inthe rear plate being shorter than the corresponding-alot portion horizontal portion of the second slot in the rear plate being longer than the corresponding slot portion in the front plate, the difference in the length of said corresponding slot portions being equal to the width of said slots, the front plate being provided with a longitudinal groove'in its rear surface, the rear plate having a corresponding groove in its front purface and a helical spring located in said grooves, engaging the ends of said grooves and urging the plates in position to cover each other.

LAWRENCE Rt BECKMAN.

No references citedf 

